The ads are coming to Apple Maps as Apple expands its business offerings

Apple on Tuesday Announce They will start allowing advertisers to do so Target customers on Apple Mapsstarting in the US and Canada later this summer. Ads will be available to any sized business that has a physical location and has already created a business listing on Apple Maps. At the same time, users will see ads appear next to relevant search results.

The ads are part of a revamped business offering that Apple calls Apple Business, which includes integrated email, calendar and directory service, as well as tools for managing employee devices.

Apple says it will show users only one ad in its Maps search results. The ad will also be clearly marked with a small blue halo around the pin on the map, and will be clearly labeled as an ad in the Suggested Places list, similar to how ads appear on the App Store.

Bringing advertising to one of Apple’s leading first-party apps provides the company with an opportunity to generate an additional, and potentially significant, revenue stream without having to radically change its product or disrupt the user experience. Already, consumers are preparing to expect ads in places like maps, after years of using Google Maps, of which ads have long been a key component. The offer could add billions to Apple’s bottom line as its advertising business continues to grow globally.

The company said that its ads will protect users’ privacy, as data related to the ads that users interact with is not linked to their Apple account. Apple said that users’ personal data remains on the device, is not collected or stored by Apple, and is not shared with third parties.

To create an ad and run a campaign, a company must first have a listing on Apple Maps. They can then upload photos, add a promotional message, and set a budget that suits them. Apple uses Automatic Match to place the ad in front of users who are actively searching for a similar business. The advertiser can choose to start or stop their campaign at any time.

Large advertisers can choose to do more advanced customization, such as scheduling when their ads will run or targeting specific locations.

the Add ads in maps Previously reported by Bloombergwhich noted that ad placement will involve a bidding process. Apple confirmed today that the ads will use an auction-based pricing system, as is standard in the industry. Advertisers only pay when they get a desired result, such as their ads being viewed or clicked.

The expansion of Apple’s advertising business comes alongside a broader change in its business offering, which sees the company consolidate its various commerce tools and services into one.

Instead of having to visit different URLs for things like Apple Business Connect, Apple Business Essentials, and Apple Business Manager, the entire suite will now just be named Apple Business. It will be introduced in 200 countries and regions starting April 14, 2026.

For the first time, companies will have access to the employee directory and a new suite of productivity tools, including email and calendaring within the company domain. Employee accounts come with 5GB of free iCloud storage, and US businesses can purchase upgraded plans starting at $0.99 per user per month (up to 2TB of storage per user). Businesses can also choose to pay for additional support with AppleCare+ for Business, priced per user or per device, starting at $6.99 per month.

The new offering includes a variety of free tools for businesses of all sizes, including an MDM product for distributing apps to employees, which has been enhanced with new features and will now also be offered for free (before it was a paid product).

Small businesses will be able to use pre-configured Blueprints to help them set up their employees’ devices without requiring advanced technical expertise. Business owners or administrators will simply choose which apps they want to provide to employees, and the settings will already be configured for them. Larger companies will be able to manage app deployments via an application programming interface (API), according to Apple.